Sudan: 100,000 refugees have fled into neighbouring countries, number could rise to 800,000 - UN

The ongoing fighting in Sudan has displaced hundreds of thousands of people within the country, and a high number of Sudanese have crossed the borders and entered neighbouring nations. As per a United Nations estimate released on Tuesday, the fighting has caused more than 330,000 people to flee their homes within the country, and over 100,000 people have crossed into neighbouring countries. The numbers are only expected to rise.

As the conflict between Sudan's army and paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues, the UN's refugee agency the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) estimates that a total of 800,000 people could potentially flee to neighbouring nations, reports AFP.

Briefing the press in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado said that "over 100,000 refugees are estimated to be among those who have now fled Sudan to neighbouring countries, including Sudanese refugees, South Sudanese returning home prematurely, and others who were themselves refugees in Sudan."

The number of internally displaced people as per the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) stands at an estimated 334,000. As per a situation report released by the agency: "the total estimate of displaced individuals across Sudan has reached 334,053".

IOM spokesperson Paul Dillon, as per Reuters, revealed that the number of people displaced in the last two weeks has exceeded "all conflict-related displacement in Sudan in 2022."

"About 72 per cent, roughly 240,000 of these new internal displacements were reported in West and South Darfur alone," he told reporters.

"In many cases, the small convoys are in a sense running the gauntlet between warring factions and it's an extremely difficult and dangerous situation for those who are embarking on these journeys," said Dillon.

The UN also stated that its 2023 aid appeals for Sudan have fallen short by around $1.5 billion and were only 14 per cent funded. "The $1.75 billion joint appeal for Sudan in 2023 is only 14 per cent funded. In other words ... (it is) facing a funding gap of $1.5 billion," said the UN humanitarian agency's spokesperson Jens Laerke.

The ongoing armed conflict between two generals — General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagaloofof the paramilitary group RSF — began on April 15th. It has already crossed into the third week, and since it started, the conflict has resulted in the death of at least 528 people. As per estimates by the Sudanese health ministry, an additional 4,599 have been injured in the fighting.

(With inputs from agencies)

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